New Delhi: India played host to the 23rd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia, organised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in collaboration with the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC), India, from 1st to 3rd July 2025 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The high-level meet marked a significant effort towards bolstering regional cooperation, capacity building, and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The OPCW, the implementing body of the CWC since it came into force in 1997, now comprises 193 Member States committed to the permanent and verifiable elimination of chemical weapons. India is one of the original signatories to the Convention and has been an active contributor to its global goals. The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its contributions to chemical disarmament.
Prominent Participation Across Asia
The meeting was attended by 38 delegates from 24 countries across Asia, including Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Iraq, and others, along with officials from OPCW and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD). The event was inaugurated in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat, and the NACWC, highlighting India’s leadership role in regional and international chemical safety dialogues.
Key Discussions and Themes
Throughout the three-day programme, representatives shared experiences, implementation challenges, and best practices in line with CWC obligations. Several core themes were addressed during the meeting:
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Strengthening legislative frameworks for CWC compliance
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Enhancing chemical safety and security standards
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Engaging stakeholders, including the chemical industry
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Exploring AI applications in monitoring and security
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Synergies between UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and the CWC
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Updates and roadmaps on the OPCW Mentorship/Partnership Programmes
India also showcased its mentorship experience, having successfully guided the Kenya National Authority in 2024 to build implementation capacity under the OPCW’s mentorship initiative.
Recognition for India’s Chemical Industry
A moment of pride was highlighted with the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) receiving the prestigious OPCW-The Hague Award 2024—the first-ever recognition globally bestowed upon a chemical industry association. The ICC was honored for promoting chemical safety, ensuring CWC compliance, and advancing industry-wide security practices in India.
Way Forward
The meeting reinforced the vital role of regional collaboration in achieving the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention. It also underscored India’s active role in promoting a secure, rule-based chemical industry, and its commitment to international peace and disarmament.
The regional forum is expected to serve as a catalyst for deeper engagement between National Authorities across Asia, enabling knowledge exchange, improved preparedness, and collective adherence to the principles of chemical non-proliferation and global safety.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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